A Review of Nutritional Status of Workers in Textile Mills of India

Abstract

The Indian textile industry, employing over 45 million workers, represents one of the country’s largest labor-intensive sectors and a critical contributor to national economic growth. The nutritional status of its workforce remains a neglected determinant of both worker welfare and industrial productivity. This review critically examines existing evidence on the dietary patterns, nutrient intake and health outcomes of textile mill workers in India, highlighting widespread deficiencies in energy, protein and micronutrients such as iron, vitamin D and calcium. The coexistence of undernutrition and rising risks of obesity and non- communicable diseases underscores the “double burden of malnutrition” within this population. Gender disparities further exacerbate vulnerabilities, with female workers disproportionately affected by anemia, reproductive demands and wage inequities. Occupational hazards such as dust exposure, heat stress and irregular work shifts compound these nutritional risks, yet current research remains fragmented and largely region-specific. Policy responses, while extensive on paper through schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS) and POSHAN Abhiyaan, seldom reach the factory floor, revealing a persistent policy–practice gap. Limited workplace- based interventions such as subsidized canteens, supplementation and public–private nutrition partnerships have shown promise but lack scalability and sustainability. This review underscores the urgent need for workplace-centered, gender-sensitive and empirically grounded nutrition strategies to improve health and productivity among textile workers. Strengthening research methodologies, integrating nutrition into occupational health frameworks and bridging gaps between national policies and workplace realities are essential to safeguard the well-being of this vulnerable workforce while supporting the long-term growth of India’s textile sector.